Rotary engine.



N0. 687,5l4. Patented Nov. 26, I91.

0. D. BENNETT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed June 3, 1901. I (No Model.) ,6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

In: mums wn'zns co, PNOYO-LITnO. WASNYNOYON. n, c.

C. I BENNETT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed June 3, 1901.)

Patented Nov. 26, IQOL (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

, NIL-687,5l4. Patented Nov. 26, IQDI.

c. u. BENNETT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Jun 8, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Shea 4.

(No Model.)

2 T 16 2? 2T 2H 5 C *2 i 8 5 i r i r g Z 'll Ill"- WM 15 1:2 2 41 15 I:nzns co. mom-urns" wnsummou n c No. 687.5l4. Patented Nov. 26, IBM.

0. n. BENNETT.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Ajapliation filed Tune 3, 1901.) No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

ea 9. 3M

THE noams FUERS co. woTo-uwa. walnut-Ton. u. c.

Patented. Nov. 26, 190i. 0. D. BENNETT;

ROTARY ENGINE.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

No. 687,5l4.

(No Model.)

AMA 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. BENNETT, OF KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,514, dated November26, 1901. Application filed .T une 3,1901. Serial No. 62,879. (NomodeL)T0 aZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. BENNETT, of the city of Kirkwood, St.Louis county, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to rotary engines; and it consists of the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown,described, and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary engineconsisting of a piston mounted between stationary cylinderheads, withcorresponding chambers formed in the sides of the piston and in thecylinderheads, into which the steam enters to rotate the piston.

Another object is to provide a number of abutments or valves locatedWithin depressions formed in the piston and in the cylinder-heads,against which the steam is driven to rotate the piston, and to providemeans whereby the said abutments or valves will be forced into thedepressions in which they are carried to permit them to pass each otherwhile the piston is rotating.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved engine complete. Fig. 2is an end View. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the arrangement ofthe different parts comprising the engine. Fig. 4 is a cross-section.Fig. 5 is a plan view. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing one of thecylinder-heads. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the locationof the entrance-ports.

In the construction of my improved engine I provide the cylinder-heads1, spaced a suitable distance apart and connected together by means ofthe cylinder or casing 52, the latter inclosing the rotary piston, whichis located between the cylinder-heads 1. The inner faces of thecylinder-heads are cut out, as indicated by 3, forming chambers whichbecome gradually deeper from the center toward the outer edges. Withineach of said depressions or chambers is formed a segmental cam-surfaceat, the inner surface of which is in alinement with the edge of the ringaround the chamber 3. A depression 5 is formed within the cam-surface 4,and a spring-actuated valve or abutment 6 is located within the saiddepression 5 and is pivoted at its inner end by means of the pin 7. Aspring 8, located within the depression 5, actuates the said valve orabutment inwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

, 9 indicates the piston, which is located between the cylind'er-heads 1and is keyed upon the shaft 10. In each side of the cylinder 9 is formeda chamber 11, which chambers are identical with the chambers 3, abovedescribed, except that the cam-surfaces within the chambers 11 arediametrically opposite. A recess 12 is formed in each of thecam-surfaces in the piston, and a valve or abutment 13, corresponding tothe valves 6, above described, is carried in each of the recesses 12,and the said valves or abntments are actuated outwardly into thechambers 3 by means of the springs 14. These valves are pivoted attheirinner ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be noticed fromthis that when the valve or abutment 13 on one side of the piston isadjacent to the valve 6 the valve 13 on the opposite side of the pistonis diametrically opposite from the corresponding valve in thecylinder-head. Hence it follows that the steam is driven against one orthe other of the valves all the time, and the piston will thus be keptin continuous mo-v tion. It will be noticed by referring to Fig. 4 thatat the center the cylinder-heads bear close against the, sides of thepiston, but at the outer edge of the piston aspace is left, so that thesides of the piston do not bear directly against the sides of thecylinder-heads. By such an arrangement the friction to be overcome bythe rotation of the piston is reduced to a minimum and the packing 15,which is carried by the piston,will prevent the escape of anyof thesteam through this space. This packing may be spring-actuated, as shownin Fig. 7, if desired.

As above stated, there are cam-surfaces formed in the chambers 3corresponding to the cam-surfaces 4, and hence when the piston isrotated the said cam-surfaces within the chambers 3 will pass thecam-surfaces 4 and will force the valves or abutments 6 back into therecesses 5 in opposition to the springs 8, while the valves 13 will beforced into the recesses 12 by the cam-surfaces 4, and thereby permitthetwo valves 6 and 13 to pass each other. In Fig. 4; two of the valvesare shown in the act of passing each other, the springs 8 and 14. beingcompressed. After the. camsurfaces have passed the valves are again ac-I steam-chambers formed in their inner sides,

tuated by'their springs and forced into the chambers to act as abutmentsfor the steam."

These valves fit snugly within the recesses within which they arecarried and cannot become dislocated. On the upper side of the cylinderis mounted a steam-chest 16, within which the valves controlling theadmission and exhaust of the steam are located. At each side of thesteam-' chest is formed a valve-chamber 17, Within which the valvescontrolling the admission and exhaust of the steam to that side of thepiston are located. Two ports 18 lead from each of the valve-chambers 17through the cylinder-head 1 into the chambers 3 and 11. Two ports areprovided,so that the piston may be driven in either direction, and theylead to different sides of the abutments 6, which, as shown in Fig. 4,are at the upper side of the cylinder. When the steam is admittedthrough one of the ports 18, the other is used asan exhaust, as willhereinafter appear. A valve l9 is located in each of the valve-chambers1 7 and is provided with two openings 20, which may be brought incommunication with the ports 18. A recess 21 is formed in the under sideof the valve 19, and when one of the openings 20 registers with the port18 the recess 21 communicates with the other port 18, and thereby formsan exhaust-passage to permit the steam to pass from within the cylinderthrough the port 18 and the recess 21 and through an opening 22, formedin the inner wall of the Valve-chamber. The steam may then be passed outthrough any known form of outlet. The valve 19 is provided with ashifting device 23, whereby it may be moved to bring either of theopenings 20 into communication with the corresponding port 18. A valve24 is located upon each of the valves 19 and is provided atone end withan opening 25 and at the opposite end with a larger opening 26, whichmay be made to register with the opening 20 in the valve 19 irrespectiveof the said valve 19. Avalve-seat 27 is located above each of the valves24,and valves 28 are mounted upon said valve-seats 27. .Suitableoperating connections 29 are provided and are connected to the shaft 10by means of the eccentric and rods 30, thereby automatically operatingthe said valves.

My improved engine is simple, durable, and efficient and consists of aminimum number of parts, none of which can easily become dislocated ordisconnected. The engine may Ibe 'ma'de very light and when in operationproduces great power.

I claim v 1. In a rotaryengine, cylinder-heads having projectingcam-surfaces in said chambers, abutments pivotall'y supported in saidcamsurfaces, a piston having steam-chambers formed in its sides,projecting'cam-surfaces in said chambers, abutments carried within saidcam-surfaces against which the steam is forced to'rotate the saidpiston, and means whereby the piston may be driven in either direction,substantially as specified.

2. A rotary enginehaviug a piston provided with steam-chambers at itssides, cant-surfaces having grooves or depressions in said(steam-chambers, cylinder-heads having corresponding steam-chambersformed ,in their inner sides, cam-surfaces having'grooves in saidsteam-chambers, abutments pivotally carried by said piston and 'by saidcylinderheads within the said grooves and extending into and closing thesteam-chambers, and means whereby the steam may be admitted to drive thepiston in either direction, substantially as specified.

3. The improved rotary engine, consisting of cylinder-heads havingsteam-chambers formed in their inner surfaces, a rotary piston locatedbetween said cylinder-heads and havingcorrespondingsteam-chambersformedinits sides,movable abutments carried by the cylinder-heads and beingpivoted at their inner ends andextendiug into the steam-chambers formedin the piston, movable abutments pivotally carried by the piston andextending into the steam-chambers formed in the cylinder-heads, andmeans whereby the abutments may pass each other while the piston isrotating, substantially as specified.

4.-. The improved rotary engine, consisting of a rotary piston havingsteam-chambers formed in its sides, entrance-ports leading to saidsteam-chambers,abutments carried within said steam-chambers so that thepiston will be rotated when steam is driven into the steam-chambers,valves located within the steam-ports, means for automatically operatingsaid valves, and means for shifting the valves so' that the piston maybe driven in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIoKs, JOHN C. HIGDON.

